Unlockable slide for hookless fasteners



Aug. 26, 1952 ZAHEL 2,607,976

UNLOCKABLE SLIDE FOR HOOKLESS FASTENERS Filed May l'l, 1949 5 Sheets-Shee t 1 FIG. I. F|G.2.

INVENTOR. ALEX ZAuEl.

ATT ORN EY$ Aug. 26, 1952 A. ZAHEL 2,607,976

UNLOCKABLE SLIDE FOR HOOKLESS FASTENERS Filed May 17, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5. FIG. .r7.

' IN VEN TOR. ALEX ZAHEJ- ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1952 ZAHEL 2,607,976

UNLOCKABLE SLIDE FOR HOOKLESS FASTENERS Filed May 17, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG, l3.

I FIG. l2. v 16 F'QIifi'x .5 e 2| s i l5 g 4 2| "m8 24 L f|5 Q 2 ['5 '7 32 I z 2 l3 l2 7 2e IN VEN TOR. ALEX Z AH EL.

ATTORN EYS.

the. bases of the zipper elements.

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNLOCKABLE SLIDE FOR HOOKLESS FASTENERS Alex Zahel, Yorktown Heights, N. Y, assignor, by mes'ne assignments, to Kee Zipper Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 17, 1949, Serial No. 93,791

8 Claims. (01. 24-20545) This invention relates to a new and improved slider for hooklessfasteners or .zippers.

It is known to make a slider whose body has two parallel and longitudinal walls whose rear ends are separated from each other, and whose front ends are integral with a transverse yoke. The rear end-part of each said wall has been pro vided with two parallel and longitudinal edgeflanges, which serve as guides for the longitudinal to-and-fro movement of the slide. The intermediate part of each said wall has been provided with two edge-flanges which are inclined to each other, and which diverge forwardly. These divergent edge-flanges are throat-flanges which interengage the zipper elements when the slide is moved forwardly in its locking direction.

The slide may accidentally engage the fabric of the flexible stringers or garment orother article. which is provided with the zipper fastener. The zipper elements may accidentally jam with each other or with the slide.

According to this invention, the transverse yoke is resilient. If the longitudinal walls are free to move relative to each other, said yoke maintains said longitudinal walls inclined to each other and Said transverse pin is located in m re ess of said socket,. and said socket and pin are fixed to eachother, as by a force-fit or drive fit,

Said head and the outer face of the respective adjacent longitudinal wall are shaped to provide cam-means orv pressure means.

When the post-assembly is turned to a selected release position, said longitudinal walls are moved to said divergent or non-operating position by the fiexure of the resilient yoke.

When-said post assembly is turned to-a se- I lected' holding position, the longitudinal walls are 'moved towards each other fromsaid divergent or non-operating positions against the flex-. ure of the yoke, until the throat-flanges of said longitudinal walls are in operating position to interengage the zipper elements when the slider rearwardly divergent. When said walls are. thus inclined to eachother, the slider can be moved forwardly in its locking direction without inter.- engaging the zipper elements, because the. transverse flanges of said-walls then suific'iently-clear If there is a jam for any reason, or if the slider engagesthe dinal wall is provided with a transverse bore-be tween said yoke and its rear end. v"One of-the elements or parts of said post-assembly'is a transverse'pin which has a bearingflange of greater width than'said pin, and an enlarged outer endhead. Said bearing-flange fits turnablyin a bore of one longitudinal wall and said enlarged end-Q head turnably abuts a part of said wall. I U f j The second or other part or element of 5 said post-assembly includes a socket or sleeve whose outer cylindrical'wall fits turn'ably in the boreof the respective longitudinal wall. Said other part orelement of the post-assembly also has a head which is external to the respective longitudinal wall.

is moved forwardly.

The transverse resilient yoke may be under zero fiexure or under selected fiexure when said transverse post-assembly is turned to its. selected release position. a

' This. construction makes it possible quickly and cheaply to assemble theparts of the postas'se'mbly with the preformed body of the slider. Inithe preferredembodiment, the head of the secondpa'rt or element has a turnable anti-fric tion member assembled therewith, and located between said head and the outer face of the respective adjacent longitudinal Wall, and said outer face is optionally and preferably planar. Said anti-friction member is preferably a ball, which has a bearing in the inner face of said head. Said ball contacts at all times with the outer face of the respective adjacent longitudinal walll Said outerface is optionally and preferably .provided with respective recesses. in which said'ballis partiallylocated in the release and holding positions of said post-assembly. Said recesses are longitudinally spaced, and they may be in longitudinal registration, 'so that the post-assembly is turned: 180? betweenits ,release position and its. liolding position, .When said ballregisters with theifront recess,..the fiexure of the resilient Yoke maintains'the longitudinal walls intheir erably cylindricahdisengages the zipper elements.

' Other objects and advantages and features of my invention: are. disclosed inthe annexed description and drawings, which illustrate three preferred embodimentst'herecf Y i and Fig. 17.

Fig. l is a top plan view which shows two longitudinal rows of hookless fastener or zipper elements, whose bases are fixed to the usual flexible stringers or fabric pieces. The zipper elements are shown as interengaged at one end of the stringers. A piece of fabric is shown as caught in the slider. Part of the representation of the slider has been omitted. The longitudinal walls of the body of the slider are parallel to each other, and in their operating positions; v I

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the slider, partially in side elevation. The longitudinal walls of the slider are'shown parallel to each other, in their operating positions;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, showing the longitudinal walls of the slider in transversely divergent and non-operating positions;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation of the slider, with its longitudinal walls divergent, correspondingto Fig. 3; i

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, when the longitudinal walls of the slider are parallel'to each other, corresponding to Fig. 2. Part of the representation of the handle of the slider has been omitted;

Fig. 8 is'an inner plan view of the head of the post-assembly;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the slider of the second embodiment, with its longitudinal walls divergent, as in Fig. 3; v j Fig. .10 is similar to Fig. 9, showing said longitudinal walls parallel, as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is an inner plan view of the head of the post-assembly of the second embodiment;'

v Fig. '12 is a longitudinal section, partially in side elevation, of the slider of the third embodiment, showing its longitudinal walls divergent, a's fin Fig. 3;

Fig-13 is similar to Fig. 12, showing said longitudinal. walls parallel, as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the body of the slidercf the third embodiment, with the turnable post-assembly removed; 7

Fig. 15 is a lateral section along the line I5I5 of Fig. 13; V

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the slider of the respective three embodiments; and

. 17 is a bottom plan view of the head of theturnable post-assembly of the third-embodime t g i First embodiment I The body ofslide S has longitudinalwalls I2 and I3, connected at their front endsby a resilient and integral transverse front yoke 14, which normally holds walls I2 and I3 in the divergent positions of Fig. 3, unless walls I2 and I3 are subjected to a counter-force to hold them in the parallel positions of Fig. 2. l

These walls I2 and I3 are identical. As shown in Fig. 4, each wall has a rear end-portion of uniform width which has parallel, transverse guide flanges 26, an outwardly. tapered intermediate portion which has outwardly divergent and transverse throat flanges'Z'I, and a rear portion whose shape is shown accurately in Fig. 4. I

Front yoke I4 isintegral with parallel and longitudinal tongues 28, which are located inter mediate walls I2 and I3 and which limit their angular movement towards each other. Said tongues 28 may abut or be very close to the inner faces of walls I2 and I3, when said walls are in the parallel operating positions of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows conventional zipper elements II, arranged in two longitudinal rows, and having bases which are fixed t0 the flexible stringers or fabric pieces I0.

Fig. 1 shows the zipper elements engaged below slide S.

Wall I3. has a cylindrical bore 9, which is adjacent a cylindrical recess I! of wall I3.

The transverse cylindrical pin I9 is integral with cylindrical bearing-flange I8, which is located wholly in bore 9 and which fits closely and turnably in bore 9. Flange I8 is integral with end-head I6, which turnably abuts the inner annular wall of recess IT. The parts I9, I8,'I=6 comprise a pin-unit I5 of the post-assembly.

This transverse pinunit I5 is assembled with a transverse socket-unit 20, which has a head 8 which is integral with a socket or sleeve 2 I. This sleeve 2I has an outer cylindrical wall, which fits turnably in a bore of wall [2. Said sleeve 2| has an inner cylindrical face, in which pin I9 is located. The free or inner end-wall of sleeve 2I abuts bearing flange I8. Sleeve 2| and'pin'IQ are permanently assembled by a force fit or other means. The units .28 and I5 thus form a postassembly which is freely turnable relative to walls I2 and I3.

At one end thereof, head 8 has a rib 8a Which I I interprovides achannel recess 1, which is open adj ahas a bearing recess of part-spherical shape, in

which part of a ball 22 is turnably located. 7

The outer face of wall I2 is planar and it has two longitudinally alined and'shallowrecesses 23 and 24, of part-spherical shape. When the post-assembly 20I5 is turned by handle 24 to the release position of Fig. 3, a part of ball 22 interfits with front recess .24, close to resilient yoke I4, which is then free to turn walls I2 and I3 to the divergent positions of Fig. 3. While walls 12 and I3 are in said divergent or non-operating positions, slider S can be moved forwardly of its position of Fig. 1, without i nter-' engaging the zipper elements II. The jam can thus be easily cleared, because the guide flanges 2B and the throat flanges 2I clear the'zipper'elements II while walls l2 and I3 are insaiddivergent positions. The resilience of yoke I4 releasably holds balls 22 in registration with front recess 24. M I Upon exerting suflicient turning force by means of handle 24, thep'ost-assembly 20I5 is turned tothe holding position of Fig. 2, in which ball 22' is in registration with. the rearrecess 2 3,tl ius releasably holdingwalls I2 and I3 in their Q1362: atingpositionsL, During. this turning movement, the freely rotating ball 22 and the planar outer face of wall I2 operate as anti-friction cam, means. r f v The units 20 and I5 can be easily assembled with each other and with ball 22 and the preformed units I2I I-I 3, preferably while the, ball 22 is in temporary registration with front recess 21, especially if sleeve 2| .an d pin 19 have a force fitordr'ivefit. The an'ti-fr-i'ction ball 22 and end-head l6 :pre+

vent-any axial movement of post-assembly- 20+.i 5

23 and .24 are omitted, and the second unit 28 h'as'a 'cam-head 29. v Said head 29 is thicker at its end 20b than at its'end 20a and said thickness varies'uniformly betweenends=20b and 20a, so that the "inner face of.- the.turnable head '29 operates'as-a cam. memiberx 1 When the thick end 2%. is located forwardly and adjacent yoke M, the walls l2 and. |.3.are.=.in the divergent position of Fig. :9, which,-correspondstoFig. 3. I When the thickend 20b is located rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 10, the walls [2 and I3 are in the same vparallel positionas in Fig. 2.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the post-assembly is turned through an arc of 180 from one selected release position to another selected holding position.

Third embodiment This is generally the same as the second embodiment, save for a modified head34 of unit 20. This head 34 has a convex cam nose 3|, which is preferably of part-cylindrical shape.

As shown in Fig. 14, the outer face of wall l2 has longitudinal and longitudinally alined con cave recesses 33 and 34, which have concave Walls. The curvature ofth'e convex part-of oamnose 3| is preferably greater'than the curvature of the concave walls of recesses 33 and 34.

'Ihecam-nose 3| and grooves 33 and 32 coop- 'erate in the same manner as the ball 22 and re- :cesses 24 and 23 of the firstembodiment.

In each embodiment the two parts of the, turnable post-assembly may .be fixed or connected'to each other in any manner.

The first embodiment is highly preferred.

When the slider is moved rearwardly to disengage the interengaged zipper elements I l, the cylindrical sleeve 2| operates to tilt the zipper elements so as to disengage them.

The ball 22 is, in effect, a part of the inner face of the head 8 of the first embodiment.

Hence, in each embodiment, the inner face of the head 8, 29, or 34 and the outer face of the respective adjacent longitudinal wall l2, are shaped to provide cam-means to force the longitudinal walls I2 and I3 to their operating positions, and to maintain said walls I2 and 13 in their operating positions. In the second embodiment, there is full contact between the inner face of head 29 and the outer face of wall I2, when the post-assembly is in holding position. There is sufficient friction between said abutting faces to releasably hold the post-assembly in its, holding position.

Preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, but numerous changes and omissions and additions can be made without'departing from its scope.

I claim:

1. A slider for hookless fasteners, said slider having a body which has longitudinal walls whose front ends are joined by a transverse resilient yoke, the rear ends of said walls being trans-- versely movable relative to each other, each said wall having a transverse bore between its front end and its rearend, a transverse and turnable post-assembly which includes a pin unit and a socket unit, each said unit being associated with a-respective longitudinal wall, said .pinineluding a pin which is located between-said :walls and which extends turnably through one ofsaid bores; said pin unit having an -end-stop head which turnably abuts the respective associated adjacent'longitudinal walLthe socket unit Jin- 'cluding-a socket member which has'anouter wall which fits turnably in the bore of the respective associated -longitudinal wall, said pin Ibei-ng located-in said socket'member and being fixed "to said socket member, said socket unit including a head which is external to the respective associated longitudinal wall, an anti-friction member connected to said head-and contacting the-outer face-of the associated longitudinal -wall; said post-assembly being turnable to a selected release position and to a selected holding position, said longitudinal walls having transverse throat flanges'which are forwardly divergent-said outer face having longitudinally spaced front and rear recesses, said anti-friction member being located partially in said front recess when said post-assembly is in said release position, said anti-friction member being located partially in said rear recess when said post-assembly is in said holding position, the flexureof said yoke maintaining said throat-flanges in non-operating positiodwhen said post-assembly is in-said' release position, said anti-friction member and said end-head forcing said longitudinal Walls towards each otherto move said throat flanges to operatingjpositions when said post-assembly is turned to its selected holding position.

2. A slider according to claim 1, in whichjsaid pin unit has a bearing flange intermediate said pin and said end-stop-head-said .bearing flange being of greater width than said pin and of less widththan said end-stop-head, the edge-wall of said socket member abutting said bearing flange.

' 3'. A" slider accordingto claim 1,- in'which said pin unit has a bearing flange intermediate said pin and said end-stop-head, said bearing flange being of greater width than said pin and of less width than said end-stop-head, the edge-wall of said socket member abutting said bearing flange, gaaid pin and said socket member having a force 4. A slider according to claim 1, in which said yoke is under fiexure when said post-assembly is in said release position.

5. A slide for longitudinally disposed hookless fasteners, said slide having longitudinal top and bottom walls, said walls having front and rear ends, said rear ends being integral with a resilient rear transverse yoke which biases said walls transversely away from each other to selected separated positions, said walls having flange means which are operative and located to slidably enga e and interlock the hookless fasteners when said slide is moved longitudinally rearwardly relative to said hookless fasteners, a transverse pin turnably connected to the bottom wall of said slide and extending through an opening of said top wall and being turnable about its axis relative to both walls, said pin having an enlarged head which abuts the upper face of said top wall, the bottom of said head having a portion comprising an anti-friction member which is turnably positioned within a recess in the bottom face of said head and which extends below the remainder of said head, said head portion being positioned forwardly of said pin in a first turned position of said pin, said head portion then forcing said longitudinal Walls against the action of said. yoke toward each other from said selected separated positions to selected proximate positions, said head portion being positioned rearwardly of said pin in a second turned position of said pin, the flexure of said yoke then overcoming the force of said head portion on said walls, said walls to move them to said selected separated positions, said walls being closer to each other in said selected proximate positions than in said selected separated positions, said pin being located and operative to separate said hookless fasteners when said slide is moved longitudinally forwardly. V p

7 ,,6. A slide in accordance with claim 5, in which said 130p, wall has depressions in the upper face thereof which are respectively positioned forwardly and rearwardly of said pin, said anti-friction member being partially located within said front depression in said first turned position of said pin, said anti-friction member being partially located in said rear depression in said second turned position of said pin, said anti-friction member being removable from both said depressions by exerting a'force on said head to turn same about the axis of said pin.

7. A slide for longitudinally disposed hookless fasteners, said slide having longitudinal top and bottom walls, said walls having front and rear ends, said rear ends being integral with a resilient reaptransverse yoke which biases said walls transversely away from each other to selected separated positions, said walls having flange means which are operative and located to slidably engage and interlock the hookless fasteners when said slide is moved longitudinally rearwardly relative to said hookless fasteners, a transverse pin turnably connected to the bottom wall of said slide and extending through an opening of said top wall and being turnable about its axis relative ,to both walls, said pin having anenlarged head which abuts the upper face of said top wall, the bottom of said head having a portion com prising an anti-friction member which is-turnably positioned within a recess in the bottom faee of said head and which extends below the remainder of said head, said head portion bein positioned forwardly of said pin in a first turned position of said pin, said head portion then forcing said longitudinal walls against the action of said yoke toward each other from said selected separated positions to selected proximate, positions, said head portion being positionedrltearwardly of said pin in a, second turned, position of said pin, the flexure of said yoke. then overcomin the force of said head portion on said Walls, said walls to move them to said iselectedseparated positions, said walls being closer to each other in saidselected proximate positions than'in said selected separated positions. a i 1 o 8. A slide in accordance with claim 7, kn which said top wall has depressions in they upperface thereof which are respectively positionedforr wardly and rearwardly of said pin, said antifriction member being partially located within said front depression in said first turned position of said pin, said anti-frictionmember being partially located in said rear depression in said second turned position of said pin, said anti-friction member being removable from both said depressions by exerting a force on said head to turn same about the axis of said pin. Y I 5i ALEX ZAHEL.

REFERENCES sCI'I'ED i The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS sico et al. Jan,"7,,*1'941 

